Exotic Locations

It's already late January and this is my first blog post of the year! It's summer here in the southern hemisphere, and I decided to get some traveling in before commitments started tying me down to La Paz.

After Christmas I made a two-day trip to Copacabana with Rachael and Janelle (my two Canadian girlfriends). Copacabana is a small town on Lake Titicaca (the highest navigable lake in the world). Our hostel was this place with a Mediterranean feel to it overlooking the beautiful lake! We enjoyed some good reading time in the hammocks.

On the 3rd of January my parents, Elisa (my sister) and I traveled to the city of Santa Cruz for a few days of family vacation. Santa Cruz is the city where I was born and is located in the lowlands of Bolivia. The climate is very hot and humid (definitely tropical). With the heat, Elisa and I very much enjoyed the hotel pools!

After four days, my parents headed back to La Paz, and I stayed on to visit different friends. I enjoyed spending several days with the Ojeda family, close family friends who know me since I was a baby. There was lots of reminiscing. From there I went and spent some days with a friend who I actually met at college in Iowa. The remainder of my time I spent with the Guzmán family. Ruth, Mrs. Guzmán, owns a hotel. Her ministry involves having missionaries or other full-time workers stay at her hotel for free whenever they go through Santa Cruz (that is how my family first met her about six years ago). Her and I often dreamed about me going and working with her and learning about hotel management (as I enjoy hospitality). I took advantage of these days with Ruth to learn a little bit about what it entails to run a hotel. I had fun manning reception a few times.

Let me share the most exciting thing that happened while I was in Santa Cruz! One day I ended up having a conversation with Janet, a young woman who is working cleaning rooms at the hotel over summer break. Somehow we ended up talking about spiritual things. I asked her something about where she would go if she were to die. She told me she would go to hell. I asked her if she wasn't afraid to die. She said she actually would like to die--that life seemed purposeless. My heart lifted up a prayer for God to help me, and I proceeded to share the beautiful gospel message. When I was done talking, there was a brief silence. Then Janet told me, "You know what? When you were talking right now--it wasn't you that was talking!" Could it be that God spoke through me?! I felt so excited, honored and humbled at the same time! Janet didn't make a decision that day, but I can tell she is really searching. Right then she had to go home, but she told me that she would really like to talk to me about some things. Sadly, there wasn't enough time left for me to get together with her before returning to La Paz. I promised her I would try to get a certain book for her (which I will have to try to send to her in the mail). I would appreciate it if you would please pray with me for Janet's salvation.

I'll sign off for now, but hopefully my updates will be a little more regular again!

Celebrating the Miracle of the Incarnation

As it does every year, Christmas has come and gone. It has been a very special season here in San Miguel.

I spent the weekend before Christmas with my friend Rachael (from B.C.) up in Llojeta (another part of La Paz). She had planned a gingerbread house party with her youth group, and we spent the weekend watching a seven hour movie (Little Dorrit), baking and cutting up gingerbread, doing other things in preparation for the party, and hosting the actual party.

At the party I met a girl who had taken sign language courses here in La Paz, and she was able to give me the name of an institute that offers these courses. I was surprised, because I had been told that there was only courses in the cities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. It also appears that signs in La Paz are slightly different from the signs used in the rest of the country. I believe God may want me to work with the deaf in La Paz, and it would probably be a good idea to take the courses offered here (vs. elsewhere).

For Christmas Eve and Christmas day, it was very special to have Rachael and Janelle (two Canadian girlfriends) with us, since my three brothers are in Canada with our relatives for the holidays. My poor dad was the only man in a house of five women! Last year my mom had a really rough Christmas, so this year I determined to take over a lot of the preparatives and give her a break. I had a lot of fun making my first Christmas dinner!

On Boxing Day (the 26th, for all my American friends), my dad, mom, Mario (a Bolivian Christian who sometimes does ministry with my mom at the prison), Rachael, Janelle and I went to Chonchocoro--a maximum security prison about an hours drive outside of La Paz. We sang Christmas carols (among other songs) and gave out Christmas bread and hot chocolate. My dad also shared a brief message, and we had time to visit with some of the interns. It was a special opportunity to share God's love with people who have experienced a lot of rejection and who don't often get a lot of visitors from the outside world.

A belated merry Christmas to you all! And as each of us heads into a new year, my desire is that God would root and establish us in His love (Ephesians 3:17-18), that we would be filled with inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8), and that God’s peace, which surpasses human understanding, would guard our hearts (Philippians 4:7)!

With love and appreciation for you all!

Celina

Quiero entregarte mis sueños...

PICTURE: Thought some of you might like to picture where I'm living right now...Here's a picture of my current home (my mom is standing on the corner). My parents rent the bright and sunny apartment on the top floor. It's located in the "Zona Sur" (The part of La Paz located lower down in the valley. Thus the climate is VERY pleasant, and it's an area where many diplomats and the more wealthy Bolivians choose to live.) I have to confess I feel a little like "a fish out of water" living surrounded by such affluence and people belonging to the "upper-class"! It's definitely a completely different world from the poor forgotten little city of Potosi where I grew up.

TITLE: I've titled this blog entry: "Quiero entregarte mis sueños" ("I want to give You my dreams"). Let me explain. Last week I started getting up early each day and walking up to "La Casa de Oración" ("The House of Prayer" A place at my sister's church designated specifically for prayer and which is open from 6 am to 10 pm every day). I find it's a wonderful place to meet with and spend time with God each morning away from all the distractions I have at home. The other day a song by one of my favourite Christian singers (Jesús Adrian Romero) was played while I was at "La Casa de Oración." The first line says, "Quiero entregarte mis sueños..." God spoke to me through that song confirming a message I have been receiving from multiple sources. During my time at the deaf centre, I went through the study "Experiencing God" by Blackaby where I learnt that God wants us to join HIM in what HE'S doing. This past week I have been spending a lot of time over at the Benavides (family friends) home helping the son work on a translation of his father's book into English. There is a part in Uncle Yecid's book where he talks about no longer asking God for what "I want" but seeking His heart and what He wants--His desires, dreams and plans.

I really feel like this is a time to rest, recharge and wait on the Lord. Please be praying with me that I would be sensitive to God's voice and calling, and that He would give me clear guidance on what HE WANTS for me in 2010.

What's Next?

In my last blog I was going to share my plans for next year, but I put it off for this week.

As I get older, the more and more I realize that we cannot know the future. Our plans and speculations fall far short of the materialized future. In a world full of surprises, it is a comfort to know that our futures are in God's hands. I am a planner--big time! I continually need to learn to "let go" and "let God".

Right now my future is a big blank. I have no commitments and no concrete plans. As I spend this time in La Paz with my family, I want to seek the Lord and wait on Him to guide my steps.

Though I have no concrete plans, let me share what I am tentatively thinking...

I just got back from a week spent in Potosi with my dad where I was able to renew my Bolivian driver's license and catch up with lots of old friends. I hope to stay in La Paz for the month of December. During this time I hope to serve and be a blessing to my family and friends and get my batteries recharged for whatever comes next. In January I would like to do some traveling around Bolivia and see some friends I have not yet been able to see. By February I hope to have made some decisions and be settling down to something. I am considering taking some courses and becoming a certified sign language interpreter. There are some courses in Cochabamba that would take me several months. There are also intensive week long courses I could take that would not require me to actually move to Cochabamba (which my sister Elisa really doesn't want).

Another option I have begun to consider is to study gastronomy here in La Paz (I could do this and also take the intensive sign language courses). I do not regret having gotten my degree in Bible and Theology, but it would be nice to have a degree that is a little more practical and useful in terms of secular employment. Studies in gastronomy would also be very helpful if God were to allow my dreams of starting bakeries/cafes/restaurants to materialize down the road. My dream is to start small businesses and generate employment for deaf individuals.

Deaf Friends

During my time in Potosi, it was special to reconnect with some of my deaf friends. Wilma (in the first picture) is a deaf teacher who works at the deaf institute in Potosi (where I volunteered for many years). She came to know Christ through a Bible study we did together in her home.

My deaf friend Paty and her deaf husband, Jairo, are the couple in the second picture. Jairo is from the city of Tarija (southern Bolivia) where he and Paty are now living. They happened to be visiting Potosi, and it was special for me to see Paty and meet her husband (they are newly married).

Blessings

-A safe trip to and from Potosi (This in spite of the fact that I did some of the driving! Bolivian highways have only two lanes, and if you get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle and want to pass, it can be quite the hair raising experience!)

-Getting to see and reconnect with old friends in Potosi.

-The whole process of renewing my license went smoothly (doing any sort of paperwork in Bolivia can be quite the ordeal sometimes!)

Prayer Requests

-Wilma's continued spiritual growth.

-Paty and Jairo's spiritual salvation.

-Clear guidance for next year.

No Place Like Home!

Last week I ended my time at the centre, and my parents and Elisa were able to help transport me and my stuff to their apartment in La Paz. It has been wonderful to be with my family, and I feel like God brought me home at this time to be a support to my parents. My dad was swamped with work, and put me to work as his "secretary" preparing some outlines for a series on Romans he is doing this week, working on power point presentations, and grading his seminary students' exams. My mom is especially stressed right now with her sister in a coma back in Canada and really serious problems in the prison where she does ministry. I think she has enjoyed having a listening ear and someone who can prepare meals when she is away for the day at the prison.

This past weekend my dad and I made the 7-8 hour trip to Potosi (the city where I grew up). We are spending the week here. My dad is giving a series on the book of Romans. I am renewing my Bolivian driver's license and catching up with old friends.

I cannot come back to Potosi without feeling a lot of nostalgia! I always love being at home in our little apartment, tucked away in the corner of a plaza in the middle of downtown. The orange building on the right (in the above picture) is the Christian bookstore, and our apartment is on the second floor.

BLESSINGS:
-Time with family.
-A safe trip to Potosi.
-Getting to see and spend time with old friends.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Please pray that God would restore peace to the Prison of Chonchocoro where my mom does ministry and pray that my mom would rest in the Lord during this stressful time. There has already been some bloodshed and there is talk of more.
-Please pray for my Auntie Jewel who has had a stroke and is now in a coma.
-Last week I meant to mention the opportunity I had to share the gospel with the sister of one of my girls at the centre (Marianela's sister, Anaelia). She seems to be disillusioned with the Catholic church and seeking. She has been getting together with Jehovah Witnesses. Please pray that she would not be deceived by the enemy and that the seed, which was planted would bear fruit in her life and that Anaelia would come to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
-Please pray for clear guidance for next year.

Birthdays n' Goodbyes

So much has happened in the last week, it is hard to process!!! Last Tuesday was Jhesica's 11th birthday. I went into Quillacollo and managed to find a cake with red (Jhesica's favourite colour) icing! It was quite the ordeal carrying a cake on the crowded "mini bus" (more like a van). I was praying the whole way that I would get the cake safely to the centre! Thankfully I got away with only a small bit of icing being brushed off by the lady next to me.

In the afternoon there was much excitement as we set the table and brought out the cake, coke (a favourite drink with the girls), and "rollo de queso" (a kind of cheese roll). We enjoyed our birthday "feast," and, most importantly of all, Jhesica seemed very happy! (Can you tell by the smile on her face in the first picture?)

On Saturday we had the closing ceremony where there were awards given and everything was wrapped up for the school year. The centre was a busy place with parents arriving for the ceremony and then preparing to take their children home. Of the girls, Jhesica was the only one to leave that day with her family.

Sunday was a cold rainy day, so the girls spent the day indoors, and I started working on my packing after our Sunday morning meeting.

On Monday my parents and sister, Elisa, arrived from La Paz around midday. We took the three orphans (Anahi, Manuela, and Sonia) as well as Mercedes into town to Burger King. We were celebrating Sonia's 17th birthday. It was quite the experience! Sonia didn't even seem to know how to eat a burger or an ice cream cone. I ended up juggling a melting ice cream cone (which I was trying to feed Sonia), napkins (to wipe away the ice cream that kept getting on her face), and toilet paper (to wipe her runny nose). What a mess! Then there was Manuela, sitting on my other side, barely able to eat her burger because of laughing so hard! She always laughs when she is extremely happy!

From Burger King we took the girls back to the centre and picked up my stuff. Then it was time to say some heartbreaking goodbyes. There was tears and there was a lot of bawling on Manuela's part. It was heart-wrenching to hear Manuela's wails as I headed out the door. It was overcast and raining, adding to the melancholy of the moment. As we drove away, I lifted up Manuela in prayer, asking God to somehow put His arms around her and comfort her.

BLESSINGS:

-God answered my prayers and my time at the centre ended well.

-Special birthday celebrations!

-My parents and sister were able and willing to come and help me pick up my stuff!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

-That God would be comforting the girls--especially Manuela and Sonia who have no family and will be staying at the centre for the whole summer vacation (remember we are in the southern hemisphere!)

-That I would be using my time wisely.

-For clear guidance for plans for next year (more on that in my next blog entry).

Check out the Centre

I thought it was about time I put up some pictures of the actual centre, so you all can picture where it is I have been living for the last few months. I was just showing these pictures to some friends this past weekend, and they were surprised at how nice the centre seems. Although it' s true that we have beautiful large grounds, etc., pictures can be deceiving, and sadly on closer inspection things are very run down and dirty.

Picture # 1: The entrance to the "Centro Cristiano Para Sordos" (The Christian Centre for the Deaf).
Picture # 2: A picture of the dining hall. The palm tree reminds me that I am living in a semi-tropical location.
Picture # 3: Looking out from the dining hall towards the class rooms (building far left), the offices (straight ahead), and another random building (on the right).
Picture # 4: The girls' dorm building and the park.
Picture # 5: The common area inside the dorm. This is a typical picture of what it looks like in the afternoons. Anahi is sitting on the couch knitting and talking to Mercedes. Manuela is sitting in the armchair grinning. Jhesica is walking around with the cat from upstairs, "Dukesa," and Irlanda, Marianela, and Melvi are at the table working on homework.

The Final Stretch

It's hard to believe that by this time next week my time at the centre should be over. Things are picking up speed as the end draws near. Today is Jhesica's 11th birthday, and I plan on going into Quillacollo to buy her a cake for a little tea party this afternoon, which will be a nice break from all the busyness of homework and exams.

On Saturday we have the closing ceremony and parents will be coming to pick up their children and get a report on this past year.

Blessings:

-The girls are getting better from their colds and God has kept me healthy in the midst of all the sickness.
-A special weekend with friends in Cochabamba.
-E-mails and facebook messages from friends!
-Time is not dragging by as much.
-The girls from the lower grades have been doing well in their exams.

Prayer Requests:

-I have to teach the lesson at the Thursday evening meeting. Please pray that God would give me a lesson to share and that He would speak through me despite my limitations in sign language.
-Please pray for the love, joy, strength, patience, and wisdom to finish off my time well.
-Please pray for the girls in the higher grades who still have exams that they would be diligent in their studies, do well, and pass.